As we head into the second half of the NFL season, what have we learned?

Although the Cowboys are 4-4 straight up this season, they are a league-best 7-1 against the spread. This should improve this week when Christian Ponder and the Minnesota Vikings head to Dallas, where the Cowboys are 4-0 ATS.

The next best teams ATS have been San Diego (5-1-1) and San Francisco (6-2). The 49ers are on bye this week, but the Chargers, getting strong contributions from Ryan Matthews and Keenan Allen will face a Washington team that is 2-5 ATS.

In the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately department, one of the hottest teams against the spread has been the Packers, who are 4-0 ATS in their last four games. The Saints have been rolling ATS with a 4-1 record in their last five games. The Packers are hosting the Bears, who lost quarterback Jay Cutler to injury and are 1-5-1 ATS. The Saints, who face the Jets, have excelled on both sides of the ball the last five games.

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Teams who have struggled ATS are Tampa Bay (1-6), Houston (1-6) and of course, Jacksonville (1-7). There is one team among this group that I think will start faring better, and that is Houston with new quarterback Case Keenum in charge.

Two weeks ago I wrote that the Texans would keep the game close at Kansas City — the Chiefs won 17-16 but the Texans easily covered ATS. Houston hosts the Colts, who are without Reggie Wayne, and here’s the number I like — the Texans are 2-0 ATS in their last two games after a bye.

Sunday’s GamesAtlanta at Carolina (-7.5): Falcons have been grounded on the road going 0-3 ATS. Nowak’s pick: Panthers 28-17.Minnesota at Dallas (-10): See above: Nowak’s pick: Cowboys 30-17.New Orleans at Jets (+6): See above. Nowak’s pick: Saints 27-14.Tennessee at St. Louis (+3): QB is the key. No Sam Bradford for the Rams, Jake Locker steps up for the Titans. Nowak’s pick: Titans 27-20.San Diego at Washington (-1): As of Friday 66 percent of the single-game wagers in Vegas were going on the Chargers. I’m a huge RG3 fan, but I like Philip Rivers better this season. Nowak’s pick: Chargers 30-27.Philadelphia at Oakland (-2.5): I would stay away from this one because I think it could go either way. Edge to the Raiders at home. Nowak’s pick: Raiders 23-17.Tampa Bay at Seattle (-16): See above, plus this — Seahawks are 15-4-1 ATS in their last 20 games at home. Nowak’s pick: Seahawks 30-10.Kansas City at Buffalo (+3): Can this spread be right, against an 8-0 team that has one of the top defenses in the NFL? Easy money. Nowak’s pick: Chiefs 27-17.Baltimore at Cleveland (+2.5): The Ravens have had the Browns’ number with 11 straight wins. Nowak’s pick: Ravens 27-20.Pittsburgh at New England (-6.5): This is a tough one with the way Tom Brady has played. But the edge has to go to the Pats at home. Nowak’s pick: Patriots 27-17.Indianapolis at Houston (+2.5): See above. Nowak’s pick: Texans 27-23.

Monday’s GameChicago at Green Bay (-10.5): I think Green Bay wins this, but the Bears, despite starting QB Josh McCown for the injured Jay Cutler, still have the playmakers who can keep this close. Nowak’s pick: Packers 24-20.